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Heavy rain creates flooding in northern Oklahoma

Thunderstorms moved through northern central Oklahoma early Monday, causing flooding in some areas.

FROM STAFF REPORTS •
Published: May 1, 2012

Heavy rains swamped parts of Oklahoma late Sunday and early Monday, washing out roads and streets in northern Oklahoma.

In Kay County, the Blackwell area had about 8 inches of rain in two days, said Dennis Bonewell, Kay County emergency management director.

PHOTO BY ROLF CLEMENTS, PONCA CITY NEWS

Several homes in northeast parts of Ponca City had water damage, a police dispatcher said.

A flood watch remains in effect through Tuesday morning for Kay, Noble and Grant counties and north central Garfield County in northern Oklahoma, the National Weather Service said.

A Blackwell police dispatcher said floodwaters there receded Monday morning and roads and streets were reopened.

A flood warning is in effect through Tuesday morning for the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River at Tonkawa, the weather service reports.

Paula Cain, Ponca City emergency management director, said 8.23 inches of rain was recorded at Ponca City's airport in a 24-hour period Sunday and Monday.

She said only a few homes had water damage and no roads were closed Monday morning.

State Highway 156 at the 101 Ranch in Kay County was closed Monday morning due to flooding, the state Transportation Department reports. Barricades were needed to keep people out. Motorists were urged not to drive into high water.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers also closed State Highway 18 north of Fairfax in Osage County for much of Monday afternoon because of flooding.

High water closed roads in the Enid area, said Mike Honigsberg, Garfield County and Enid emergency management director.

Honigsberg said 102nd Street from State Highway 412 to Breckenridge had several places where water was in the roadway and the street was closed. On the west side of Enid, Imo Road and W Chestnut was closed due to high water Monday morning.